Hen violently attacked my chicks please help.

[chickenlady211]

How old are the chicks?

The chicks are 5 weeks old almost 6.

 

[chickenlady211]

has the hen that attacked them been attacking them for a while??? those injury's seem horrible. I don't really know what to do but I'm praying those three chicks live

She has never attacked them before only me when she thought I was reaching for her babies. And so far all three made it through the night, and they are grooming themselves, and eating, drinking, and pooping. They are doing really good today.

 

[alinas2010]

Welcome to the site. So sorry this happened, but there is hope for a full recovery for all of your chicks. Great job with them, so good to hear they did okay overnight. For the future, you typically don’t need to suture any of the wounds, as gruesome as they are, but kudos to you for doing so. As others have said, keep them clean and apply triple antibacterial ointment such as neosporin (without pain relief) as needed to keep the wounds moist. Ensure they are separated from the rest of the flock until healed and watch for any swelling, smells, drainage or changes in general with the wounds. Keep us updated!

 

[chickenlady211]

Welcome to the site. So sorry this happened, but there is hope for a full recovery for all of your chicks. Great job with them, so good to hear they did okay overnight. For the future, you typically don’t need to suture any of the wounds, as gruesome as they are, but kudos to you for doing so. As others have said, keep them clean and apply triple antibacterial ointment such as neosporin (without pain relief) as needed to keep the wounds moist. Ensure they are separated from the rest of the flock until healed and watch for any swelling, smells, drainage or changes in general with the wounds. Keep us updated!

Thank you all for so much good advice for my babies. I am going to continue taking your advice so I can save them. They are really big beautiful chicks from my Starlight Green egg hens and my barred rock hen and my sweet Light Brahma rooster. They all have amazing personalities.

 

[Old farmer at bFADFarms]

I will as soon as I get back from running to town to get some electrolytes and vitamins. And to see if the store has something different to bandage them. I can’t get my vet wrap to stay away from their eyes.

I know it doesn’t sound nice but have had chicks and hens pick chicks. I use to use just bag balm on them and then they regrow the skin and feathers but have missed a couple and found that they healed on their own and couldn’t tell the difference. Supposing it’s a protection mechanism from the hen saying leave my chicks alone. It usually happens when more than one hen has chicks!

 

[chickenlady211]

I know it doesn’t sound nice but have had chicks and hens pick chicks. I use to use just bag balm on them and then they regrow the skin and feathers but have missed a couple and found that they healed on their own and couldn’t tell the difference. Supposing it’s a protection mechanism from the hen saying leave my chicks alone. It usually happens when more than one hen has chicks!

We changed around the set up for the older chicks and the hen’s chicks so she and her chicks are in the big coop with the adults in a large dog crate until they get a bit bigger so they are safe from the other hens and turkeys. And my 5 week old chicks are in my chick coop, they all get along and no one is bothering the injured ones in fact they are actually keeping the injured ones eating and drinking. The others peck at food and water, and the injured chicks get up to eat as well. As long as no one pecks at the injured they are going to stay together. These injured chicks are very motivated, they are eating and drinking, and do not seem to be struggling at all.

 

[alinas2010]

We changed around the set up for the older chicks and the hen’s chicks so she and her chicks are in the big coop with the adults in a large dog crate until they get a bit bigger so they are safe from the other hens and turkeys. And my 5 week old chicks are in my chick coop, they all get along and no one is bothering the injured ones in fact they are actually keeping the injured ones eating and drinking. The others peck at food and water, and the injured chicks get up to eat as well. As long as no one pecks at the injured they are going to stay together. These injured chicks are very motivated, they are eating and drinking, and do not seem to be struggling at all.

Having friends around often does help immensely with recovery and convincing the injured ones to eat. So glad they’re doing well!

 

[alinas2010]

How are your chicks doing?

 

[chickenlady211]

How are your chicks doing?

They are doing great, sorry I almost forgot to update. The skin around the edges is looking healthy and the chicks are very active and healthy no sign of infection. They are so precious, they look like their dad now, he’s a light Brahma and their mothers are Starlight green eggars and one barred rock. 7 chicks are starlight brahmas and one is a barred rock Brahma so pretty. They trust me to be right in the midst of them as they eat and drink

 

[alinas2010]

They are doing great, sorry I almost forgot to update. The skin around the edges is looking healthy and the chicks are very active and healthy no sign of infection. They are so precious, they look like their dad now, he’s a light Brahma and their mothers are Starlight green eggars and one barred rock. 7 chicks are starlight brahmas and one is a barred rock Brahma so pretty. They trust me to be right in the midst of them as they eat and drink

Wonderful news! Thanks for updating would love to see pics of the again if you have any